Italian Souls for Christ

While packing this week for Italy I came across two poems by Leonard Ravenhill I had copied some time back that were lost amidst some papers in my filing cabinet. I’ve reproduced them here to express in a way that only Ravenhill can as to why we go…

In Heathendom by Leornard Ravenhill

Millions are waiting yet
in heathendom
Will they the Gospel get
in heathendom?
Who will arise and go
out to this sin, this woe,
And Christ the Saviour show
to heathendom?

The sun will soon be set
o’er heathendom.
But they are waiting yet
in heathendom.
Lost in the fog of sin,
will none these wanderers win
For Jesus Christ our King
from heathendom?

Will someone lead the way
to heathendom?
Will others join the fray
in heathendom?
Lord, raise a holy band
with hearts empowered to stand
All that You will demand
for heathendom.

Our Lethargy by Leonard Ravenhill

I walked down the steaming jungle path
‘mid exotic flowers and trees,
There were streams and gorgeous butterflies,
but my mind was not fixed on these.
My head and my feet were burning,
but my heart burned hotter with shame
As I saw the diseased and degraded
who never had heard His name.

I thought of our stately churches
and their softly cushioned pews,
And I wept for the sin-damned millions
who never had heard the News
Of the spotless Christ of Calvary
who died their souls to save.
Unless there’s a change, that heathen mass
will go Christless to the grave.

God, pity our empty fullness;
God, pity our barren tree;
God, pity our long-range blindness;
God, curse our lethargy!
Turn our much-used words into action,
change ease into Spirit-born care,
Baptize us with Thy compassion
that puts feet under our prayer.